Air compression type flush tanks



April 18, 1961 E. L. HARRow 2,979,732

AIR coMPREssIoN TYPE FLUSH TANKS Filed April 14, 1958 f i i INVENTOR.

Hwa/d L Harrow BY c' w l? 7'7" ORNE Y My invention relates to improvements in air compression type flush tanks for ushing toilet bowls.

.United stares Pemed Apr- 18, .19.61,

bers 12 and 13 with the tank resting on a suitable support 32. The tank has a top end closure member 14 and a bottom end closure member 15.` The top closure member 14 is preferably tightly welded to the top of the tank 10. The bottom closure member 15 can be similarly welded or it can be a threaded type closure An objectof my invention is to provide a simple and f l highly eflicient air compression type flush tank tobe used instead of a conventional typev oat controlled flush tank=-in connection with a toilet bowl. y 7

Another object is to provide along air compression typefush tank of sufficient capacity for use/with a toilet Abowl and of a small enough cross sectional dimension so that "it can bev installed within and concealed by a wall of conventional construction. f Another object is to provide an air compression type ush tank which is quiet in'operation 'andI doesfaway withnmuch of the noise commonto ush tanks ofthe form nowin common use. f- 4' Another object'is to provide an air compression ty'pe flushH tank in which water is stored under the fullfpressure provided by the' water supply system with whichthe tank is Connected and which will deliverthe stored waterfffor vflushing `purposes ata Pfastra'te and at a substantially reduced and fairly constant pressure thereby providing Theplates16,"17 and 18 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are pro-r member of detachable form, such` as a cap `or a plug. 'Ihre welded top yclosure member provides a completely air tight tank top and lthis is important in making'it possible to maintain an ample supply of air for expan sion purposes inthe upper end of the tank 10 over long periods of time. Ind that when; the closure member 14 is carefully welded to the topfof the tank loss of air from the tank is substantially eliminated. n

A plurality` ofvertically spaced apart partition type discharge control platesare` provided in the tank 10 to 'control-thepressure of wate'r'as it dischargesfrom the tank. 'fThe numberlf of platesv cankbe varied but I have foundy that three properly spaced discharge controlfplates 16, 17 tand Y18"iare suicient for satisfactory operation.

vided respectively with perforations 19, 20 and 21 and preferablyallofsaidplates are secured to and vassembled on a rod 22 which rests on the tank bottom 15 and extends y.substantiallytothe tank top 14. Securing the plates 16, 17 and 18 to the krod 22 simplifiesandr reduces the cost of construction and assembly of this Hush tank efficient, ushng'operation without objectionabler noise.

Another object is to provide a flush tank having thereinl a plurality of spaced apart water discharge vcontrol plates adaptedk to control Water pressure by restricting the downward movement of discharging water in the tank, saidplates being attached to 4and assembled "on la rod which extends substantially the full length ofthe tank andfsupports the plates in spacedapart relation in the tank, the assemblyof the plates on'the rod providing ease of installation and eflicient support of the plates in the 'tank Awithout necessitating Y welding `or otherwise at# taching the plates to the walls of the tank. Y

Othery objects of this invention will be apparent from the following 'description and accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of an air compression type'lush tank constructed in accordance with e my invention showingthe same installed within a wall and connected with a toilet bowl. l l

Figi l2Iis a'fragmentary cross sectional view, on a larger -scale than Figsl, taken substantially on broken line 2%2 of Fig. l.

- f lFig. 3 is a detached view of an `assembly of water discharge control plates on a rodshowing the same apart fromthetank."' N l y. llig.l '.4 isa top plan view, with parts brokenaway, illustrativefof` a` rod supported assembly of waterdischarge control plates of modified form. n, n

Fig.' 5 is aA viewsimilar to Fig. 4 illustrative of a rod supported assembly of water discharge control plates of still another modified form.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. l

` This iiush tank comprisesa tube or pipe 10 of substantial length and of a diameter or cross sectional dimension capable of being installed in the space 11 of an ordinary wall between two spaced apart wall memby making it unnecessary to weld the plates to the tank or crimp thetank toV hold the plates or otherwise attach the platesto the walls of the tank. These plates'can be modified in`` form, .as hereinafter explained and vshown in Figsj4 and 5; However, I preferably make theplates 16, 17 and 18 shown in Figs. `1 to 3, and the similar plates shown `in Fig.` 5, of `a diameter only "slightlyf less than the internalfdiarrieter vof thetank 10so` thatthe plates assembled' on the l,roti canbe readily pushedinto the tank andi'wfill be 'supportedyk against vibration by the walls' of the" tank,y but will not allow much water to ilow between the vmargins ofthe platesand thewall ofthe tank. The rate of ow of water downwardly pastn'each plate 16, 17 and 18 isw largelygdependent on the ltlow area afforded by the perforations `19, v20 and 421 when thel platesY 'are lthusr sized to iitclosely within the Vtank. 'Ihelcylindrical part of tank 10 can be apiece of pipe of conventionalformf Y y .y 'j n The platesused -in my iiushr tank are constructed so that each successiveplate, vdownwardly considered, 'offers less resistance tothey downward flow ofl water past it than is olered by the plate next above it. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and3 this isaocomplished by making the plates 16, 17 and 18 of uniform size. and

fairly close fitting Yand, by makingV the perforations 19, 20 and 21 in the respective plates 16,r 17 and 18 equal in number but of successively increasing size, downwardly considered. Another waynto accor'nplish this result is to providel a successively increasing number of ow perforationsof equal size in thesuccessive plates 16,17and1s. t I

Still another way tol provide for Aaniricreasing iiow area past]successivey plates, .downwardly considered, is illustrated in Fig'.` 4 and comprisesfomitting allperforationsand'facc'urately Y`sizing each oflfalpluralityof spaced apartlplates 16a', '17af and 18a ona'rod 22a so thateach succeeding plate, downwardly considered, is slightly smaller than the plate above it.

Also, as shown in Fig. 5, an increasing ow area past successive discharge control plates 16b, 17b and 18b, downwardly considered, can be obtained by providing marginal notches 23, 23a and 23b in the respective plates, the notches being of varying size or number.

A water inlet pipe 24 is communicatively connected with the lower end portion of the tank 10. Also the lower end portion of the tank is connected by an outlet conduit 25, self closing Hush valve 26 and ushing conduit 27 with a toilet bowl 28. The self closing ush valve 26 has a handle 29 by which it can be opened. This valve 26 is commonly known as a flushometer valve and is readily obtainable on the market.

The tiow area provided by conduits 25 and 27 and valve 26 is substantially larger than the inlet ow area provided by the conduit 24. I find that satisfactory operation is provided by using an inlet conduit 24 of about one fourth inch diameter and outlet conduit means 25, 26, 27 equal to about one inch diameter.

When the self closing flush valve 26 is in closed position water entering through conduit 24 at substantially any pressure ordinarily provided by water service pipes will rise in the tank 10 and compress air in a space 30 in the upper end of said tank until the air and water pressure in the tank equalize. Then when the flush valve 26 is opened the expansive pressure of the cornpressed air will force the water past the discharge control plates 16, 17 and 18 and provide an even ow of water at a fast rate but at a pressure substantially less than the maximum tank pressure to the bowl 28 for ushing purposes.

Usually water will enter the tank 10 at a pressure of not less than about forty pounds per square inch. The water inlet pipe 24 is of relatively small diameter and does not supply this water at a very fast rate. When the ush valve 26 is opened the water pressure in the lower end of the tank 10 will drop quickly to a predetermined minimum and will remain near that minimum until substantially all of the water is flushed out or the ush valve 26 closes. Some water entering through the inlet pipe 24 passes directly to the bowl 28 and helps in the ilushing operation.

The pressure of the expanding air in the upper end of the tank 10 decreases as the level of the water is lowered, in ushing. Successive water discharge control plates, downwardly considered, each provide a greater area for the ow of water past them. Thus the resistance to the discharge of water decreases as the air pressure on the water decreases and the result is that the plates regulate and reduce water pressure in the lower end portion of the tank 10 and keep this pressure substantially constant during the flushing operation. I find that noise is minimized and satisfactory ushing operation is obtained if the major portion of the water is allowed to discharge from the tank 10 under a pressure of about elevent pounds per square inch. This pressure can be attained by the use of discharge control plates of the types hereinbefore disclosed.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In tiushing apparatus, a long upright tank of relatively small cross sectional area capable of being concealed in a wall of a building, said tank being closed at both ends providing an air tight air pressure chamber in the upper end and a water receptacle below said air pressure chamber; a plurality of vertically spaced apart transverse discharge control plates within said tank, each discharge control plate having slightly less water obstructing area than the plate next above it, each discharge control plate retarding downward movement ot the water in the tank and the water retarding action of each successive plate being less than the water retarding action of the plate next above it providing for a reduction of the water retarding action of the plates as the air pressure on the water in the tank decreases and for an approximately uniform discharge of the water from the tank at a pressure substantially below the initial pressure at which the water is maintained in the tank; water inlet means connected with said tank; and flush valve controlled water outlet means connected with the lower end portion of said tank.V

2. In tlushing apparatus, a long upright tank of relatively small cross sectional area capable of being concealed within a building wall, said tank being closed at both ends providing an air pressure chamber in its upper end and a water receptacle below said air pressure chamber; water pressure supply means connected with said tank; valve controlled water outlet ush means connected with the lower portion of said tank; and a plurality of vertically spaced apart transverse discharge control plates disposed within sad tank, each discharge control plate having openings therein providing restricted flow areas for water to pass from one side to the other of the plate, the openings in successive plates, downwardly considered, affording successively greater flow areas and said plates reducing the pressure of water discharging from the lower end portion of the tank.

3. In flushing apparatus, a long upright tank of relatively small cross sectional area capable of being concealed within a wall of a building, said tank being closed at both ends providing an air pressure chamber in its upper end and a water receptacle below said air pressure chamber; water pressure supply means connected with the lower end portion of said tank; water outlet means of greater tlow capacity than said water pressure supply means connected with the lower end portion of said tank; a flush valve controlling the discharge of water through said water outlet means; a rod extending longitudinally within said tank substantially from end to end thereof; a plurality of spaced apart discharge control plates rigidly secured to said rod and the rod and plates constituting a one piece assembly, the plates being supported by said rod in vertically spaced apart relation in said tank, the marginal portions of said plates being disposed in close proximity to the walls of said tank minimizing water ow area'between the plates and the walls of the tank; and ow passageways provided in each of said plates, the ow passageways in successive plates, downwardly considered, being of successively increasing area, said plates reducing the pressure of the water at the location of said water outlet means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 291,369 Marass Jan. 1, 1884 814,604 Hillis Mar. 6, 1906 1,229,505 Osmer June 17, 1917 1,231,828 West et al. July 3, 1917 1,235,517 Gross July 31, 1917 1,281,457 Whitney et al Oct. l5, 1918 1,898,337 Brooks Feb. ll, 1933 2,548,563 Smith Apr. l0, 1951 2,738,851 Watch Mar. 2,0, 1956 2,882,993 Murty Apr. 21, 1959 

